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17 Dec 2010 17:09

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Politics: Ezra Klein: Obama’s brand power strong even with GOP House

  • Whatever the explanation, there appears to be more life in the Obama brand than the pundits might think, and than the Republicans might hope.
  • Policy superdude Ezra Klein • Reacting to a recent poll which suggests that Obama has stronger post-midterm stock than his two predecessors. While people trusted the other party to solve problems more than the president after the unsuccessful midterms for both Clinton (in 1994) and Bush (in 2006), Obama still has a little bit of  an advantage over the GOP this time around. “There’s been a lot of criticism of Obama’s communication skills lately,” Klein notes, “but if you look at the polls, he’s doing a far better job than his predecessors did preserving his brand within an unfriendly political environment.” source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

16 Dec 2010 11:01

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Politics: Jim DeMint pulls the “it’s Christmas” card to block legislation

  • We shouldn’t be jamming a major arms control treaty up against Christmas; it’s sacrilegious and disrespectful. What’s going on here is just wrong. This is the most sacred holiday for Christians. They did the same thing last year – they kept everybody here until [Christmas Eve] to force something down everybody’s throat. I think Americans are sick of this.
  • Sen. Jim DeMint • Saying a pretty douchey thing about doing his freaking job. So, to clarify … the GOP stonewalls the Democrats in the Senate the entire year, forcing legislation and judicial nominees from getting passed or even debated, and Jim here is all upset because they’re trying to actually get stuff passed while they still have some control of Congress? Yeah, you’re not a jerk. Perhaps you would enjoy your Christmas holiday more if YOU DIDN’T ACT LIKE A JERK THE REST OF THE YEAR. Don’t like it? Deal with it. Seriously, this is the most pathetic reasoning we’ve seen for any political ploy this year. Mind you, it’s December. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

14 Dec 2010 20:37

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Politics: Let the fiddling begin: Democrats want to modify tax compromise

  • left While Democrats have come to grips with most portions of the Obama tax compromise, some are staunchly against a measure that significantly lowers the estate tax (which has been on pause this year) and raises the exemption rate to a rate much higher than it was.
  • right In case you’re wondering if the GOP likes the idea of any measures in the plan changing, Mitch McConnell puts it like this: “This agreement is not subject to being reopened. In other words, we have an understanding.” Our boy Mitch is still sort of a jerk. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

14 Dec 2010 11:01

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World: Silvio Berlusconi (barely) survives no-confidence vote in Italy

  • 314-311 that’s not very confident source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

13 Dec 2010 10:10

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Politics: Michael Steele: Will Mr. Delusional run for RNC Chair again?

  • That look in Michael Steele’s eyes? Some might call it “deer in headlights.” We call it “ignorance to the gravity of his situation.” Anyway, the man of Steele, who has led the RNC through its most embarrassing period in ages, will be announcing his future plans today. Our money is on him being so oblivious to his unpopularity among Republicans (especially for his fiscal skills, which are pretty much the key part of running the RNC) that he’ll run again. And honestly, we hope he does. We love the sound of a good trainwreck. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

10 Dec 2010 21:10

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Politics: Is Obama learning the martial art of Bill Clinton’s triangulation?

  • So, another theory on this whole tax cut thing – Obama’s taking a cue from Bill Clinton on that whole “trangulation” thing he did in the ’90s – where Clinton gave the GOP some of what they wanted but ended up helping himself in the long run. It’s a theory that the White House bristles at, but the video above, where Bill Clinton essentially took over for Obama today, looks kind of symbolic. Beyond the fact that it’s effing hilarious. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

02 Dec 2010 21:22

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Politics: Oh Charlie: Mr. Rangel’s censure swift, kinda embarrassing

  • Assaulting a fellow member of Congress. Treasonous conduct. Selling appointments to a military academy. Bribing people. Committing acts of payroll fraud. Sexual misconduct with congressional pages (who, by the way, are 16 years old when working in Congress). And now the latest reason for a censure: Using rent-controlled apartments at extremely undervalued rates while not paying taxes, failing to report income on a property being rented out in the Dominican Republic, keeping tax loopholes that benefit major donors, fundraising with house letterheads, and overall general corruption. Charlie Rangel’s had a pretty busy past couple of years, hasn’t he? source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

01 Dec 2010 22:28

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U.S.: Should U.S. State Department employees read Wikileaks?

  • NO a sternly-written memo told them not to go there source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

01 Dec 2010 22:01

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U.S.: Illinois set to allow same-sex civil unions! Hoo-ray!

  • This will be the entry to a slippery slope. The next thing we’ll see will be consideration of gay marriage.
  • Illinois Republican state representative Ron Stephens • Stating the obvious about the state’s move to allow civil unions, as if that’s going to stop it from getting signed into law. We’d like to congratulate Illinois for making the move to be the second state to allow civil unions and the seventh to allow gay marriage or civil unions – eighth if you count Washington D.C. Another seven states allow domestic partnerships that give varying degrees of rights. (On an unrelated side note, our source link is using this awesome new highlighting feature that the New York Times introduced today. Check it out. It’s futuristic.) source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

01 Dec 2010 11:10

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Politics: Senate GOP: We’ll block all bills until we extend Bush tax cuts

  • 42 GOP senators will make Lame Duck Congress suck more source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 1 Comment • Permalink
 
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